Armed Herders Launch Fresh Attack in Benue, Four Mobile Policemen Feared Dead

Suspected armed herders have once again launched a devastating attack on a community in Benue State, with at least four Mobile Policemen feared dead following an assault on Udei community in Guma Local Government Area (LGA). The tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday afternoon, June 29, 2025, marks another escalation in the protracted conflict gripping parts of the state.

According to reports from a community leader and former acting Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Matthew Mnyan, the attack on Udei began around 2:00 pm in what appeared to be a coordinated assault. The assailants had earlier launched an invasion on the nearby Asha community at about 11:00 am, chasing residents from their farms and escalating their aggression towards Ortese, an area housing thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The swift intervention by military personnel stationed in the area, who engaged the marauders in the bush, reportedly prevented them from entering Ortese and saved civilian lives there. However, the conflict then shifted, leading to the deadly shootout in Udei where the Mobile Policemen were caught in the crossfire.

“In what looked like a coordinated attack, they also attacked Udei at about 2 pm, and four Mobile Policemen were killed in the shootout,” Mr. Mnyan confirmed, expressing fear among residents as the attackers reportedly reappeared in Ortese later in the evening.

Efforts to obtain official confirmation and details from the Benue State Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Udeme Edet, were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered and text messages unreplied at the time of filing this report.

This latest wave of violence comes barely 16 days after a similar, larger-scale attack on the neighbouring Yelwata community, which tragically claimed over 200 lives and left many hospitalized and displaced. The repeated invasions by armed herders continue to pose a severe security challenge for Benue State, prompting urgent calls for enhanced security measures and protection for vulnerable communities.